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Athens Ala May 20, 1867
Lieut Genl
U. S Grant 

Sir,
I am desired by sundry union citizens of this county to make known to you the condition of the county in reference to the protection of loyal men- The offices are all in the hands of ex-rebels; who have been and still are secretly defiant against the government - and who in the prestige of their official position to keep the union men (whites) and the freedmen in the same subservience to their heberts that prevailed during the rebellion. Until I reached my home here, the colored people had not been informed, of their enfranchisement- nor had they been instructed in their civil rights or privilges - I called a meeting two days after, at which some 25 or 30 whites and some 500 blacks - attended Dr Haughey (who served as surgeon in the federal army) during the war and myself addressed them- telling them of